Some family members wanted Jamar Gilbert to not play just two days after his father, Duane, had died from cancer.

The Newark East Side senior guard had no doubt he was going to play, saying that is what his father would have wanted.

“I know my dad wouldn't want me to stay home and just sob about his loss,” Gilbert said. “I know he would have wanted me to come here today and play. Not only for him, but for my teammates, just to come here and win this game. I was able to overcome it and just give it my all.

“It was a heart-breaking day. It was really sad for the whole family, but I knew that he wanted me to still come to the game, play and represent the family.”

Heart break and grief turned into exuberance for Gilbert and his teammates. Gilbert took an inbounds pass, raced down the court and hit a game-winning 3-pointer from the wing as time expired in overtime to give Newark East Side, No. 2 in The Star-Ledger Top 20, a 52-51 victory over No. 1 Paterson Eastside in the Freedom Fighters Hoop Challenge on Monday night in Paterson.

Gilbert, whose father died Saturday, finished with six points and was selected as Player of the Game for Newark East Side (10-0).

“The play was designed for Abdul (Lewis),” Gilbert said. “I just knew in my mind that if he was going to be denied, I was going to have to be the one to pull up and take the shot. My mind was free and as I rose, I hoped to God that it was going to go in.”

Newark East Side led by as many as 11 points before Paterson Eastside (10-1) made its run. Asem Johnson scored 12 of his game-high 23 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. The junior tied it at 44 on a put-back with 1:15 left in regulation.

A potential game-winning shot from Paterson Eastside's Shakur Juiston rimmed out at the end of regulation, but the junior gave his team its first lead since the first quarter on a layup with 12 seconds left in overtime.

“This was one of the most intense games I've ever played in,” Gilbert said. “I love the big stage. I love playing in games like this.”